Port Blair, July 25: The Andaman and Nicobar State Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) unit has demanded transfer of the liquor sale business in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Plantation Development Corporation Ltd. (ANIFPDCL).
Following publication of news regarding Andaman Administration’s move to transfer the liquor business to Consumer Cooperative Stores Ltd. from Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), the BJP has come out openly to raise objection in this regard.
“If at all it becomes absolutely necessary to divest ANIIDCO of the liquor business then it must be handed over to the Forest Corporation (ANIFPDCL) which is also a public undertaking body like the ANIIDCO,” R Mohan the President of BJP’s A & N State Unit told media.
ANIFPDCL, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India, is facing acute financial crisis since 2002, after tree felling was banned in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, by the Supreme Court of India.
“Asking the Forest Corporation to run the liquor business would turn out to be a boon for the fund starved corporation whose employees have been facing a rough weather for no fault of theirs,” Mohan added.
Pointing out towards Pradesh Congress Committee, which believe to be running the Consumer Cooperative Stores from behind the curtain, Mohan said that “there is every possibility of a particular political party misusing the liquor trade under CCS.”
Mohan also objected to the flourishing Bar culture in AN Islands which has ruined so many happy families and requested for a total ban on liquor business in these islands.
The BJP unit of A & N Islands also written a letter to the Lt Governor of A & N Islands and registered their objection.
